History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. B-1, created 1 Oct. 1843–24 Feb. 1845; handwriting of
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
View Full Bio
and
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
View Full Bio
; 297 pages, plus 10 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the second volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This second volume covers the period from 1 Sept. 1834 to 2 Nov. 1838; the subsequent four volumes, labeled C-1 through F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

This document, volume B-1, is the second of the six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church.” The collection was compiled over the span of seventeen years, 1838 to 1856. The narrative in volume B-1 begins with the entry for 1 September 1834, just after the conclusion of the Camp of Israel (later called Zion’s Camp), and continues to 2 November 1838, when JS was interned as a prisoner of war at
Far West
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
More Info
, Missouri. For a fuller discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to the history.
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
View Full Bio
, serving as JS’s “private secretary and historian,” completed the account of JS’s history contained in volume A-1 in August 1843. It covered the period from JS’s birth in 1805 through the aftermath of the Camp of Israel in August 1834. When work resumed on the history on 1 October 1843, Richards started a new volume, eventually designated B-1.
At the time of JS’s death in June 1844, the account had been advanced to 5 August 1838, on page 812 of volume B-1.
Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
View Full Bio
’s poor health led to the curtailment of work on B-1 for several months, until 11 December 1844. On that date, Richards and
William W. Phelps
17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
View Full Bio
, assisted by
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
View Full Bio
, resumed gathering the records and reports needed to draft the history. Richards then composed and drafted roughed-out notes while Thomas Bullock compiled the text of the history and inscribed it in B-1. They completed their work on the volume on or about 24 February 1845. Richards, Willmer Benson, and Jonathan Grimshaw later added ten pages of “Addenda,” which provided notes, extensive revisions, or additional text to be inserted in the original manuscript where indicated.
Though JS did not dictate or revise any of the text recorded in B-1,
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
View Full Bio
and
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
View Full Bio
chose to maintain the first-person, chronological narrative format established in A-1 as if JS were the author. They drew from a variety of primary and secondary sources including JS’s diaries and letters, minutes of meetings, the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, church and other periodicals, reports of JS’s discourses, and the reminiscences and recollections of church members. As was the case with A-1, after JS’s death,
Brigham Young
1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...
View Full Bio
,
Heber C. Kimball
14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...
View Full Bio
,
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
View Full Bio
, and others modified and corrected the manuscript as they reviewed material before its eventual publication.
Beginning in March 1842 the church’s Nauvoo periodical, the Times and Seasons, began publishing the narrative as the “History of Joseph Smith.” It was also published in England in the church periodical the Millennial Star beginning in June 1842. Once a press was established in Utah and the Deseret News began publication, the “History of Joseph Smith” once more appeared in print in serialized form. Beginning with the November 1851 issue, the narrative picked up where the Times and Seasons had left off over five years earlier.
The narrative recorded in B-1 continued the story of JS’s life as the prophet and president of the church he labored to establish. The account encompasses significant developments in the church’s two centers at that time—
Kirtland
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
More Info
, Ohio, and northwest
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
More Info
—during a four-year-span. Critical events included the organization of the Quorums of the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy, the dedication of the House of the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, the establishment of the Kirtland Safety Society, dissension and apostasy in Kirtland and Missouri, the first mission to England, JS’s flight from Kirtland to Missouri in the winter of 1838, the Saints’ exodus from Kirtland later that year, the disciplining of the Missouri presidency, and the outbreak of the Missouri War and arrest of JS. Thus, B-1 provides substantial detail regarding a significant period of church expansion and transition as well as travail.

Hide editing marks

<October 30 Hauns Mill Massacre> was 18 or 19 whose names as far as I recollect, were as follows: , Levi <-[N.]-> Merrick Elias Benner, Josiah Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander Campbell, , Sardius Smith -[aged 12 years]-, George S. Richards Mr. -[William]- Napier, Mr. -[Austin]- <Augestin> -[Augtistie]- Harmer, Mr. -[Simon]- Cox, Mr. , Mr. , Chas. Merrick -[a boy eight or nine years old]- -[John Lee, John Byers,]- and three or four others, whose names I do not recollect as they were strangers to me. Among the wounded who recovered were Isaac Laney, Nathan K. Knight, Mr. -[William]- Yokum, two brothers by the name of and George]- Myers, , Mr. , and several others (, -[Jacob Potts, Charles Jimison, John Walker, Alma Smith aged about 9 years old]- Miss Mary Stedwell while fleeing was shot thorough the hand, and fainting, fell over a log, into which they shot upwards of twenty balls. To finish their work of destruction this band of murderers composed of men from , , , Carroll and Counties, led by some of the principal men of that section of the Upper Country, (among whom I am informed were Mr. Ashby of , member of the State Legislature, Col. Jennings, of , Thomas O. Bryon, Clerk of , Mr. Whitney, Dr. Randall, and many others) proceeded to rob the houses, waggons and tents, of bedding and clothing, drove off horses and waggons, leaving widows and orphans destitute of the necessaries of life, and even stripped the clothing from the bodies of the slain! According to their own account, they fired seven rounds in this awful butchery, making upwards of sixteen hundred shots at a little company of men, about thirty in number. I hereby certify the above to be a true statement of facts according to the best of my knowledge. .

State of Illinois, County of — ss— I hereby certify that this day came before me and made oath in due form of law that the Statements contained in the foregoing sheets are true according to the best of his knowledge and belief. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at this fourth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine— C. M. Woods— Clerk Circuit Court Ill.”

-[a younger brother of the Boy here killed, aged eight, was shot through the hip. The little fellow states, [HC 3:186] that seeing his Father and brother both killed, he thought they would shoot him again if he stirred, and so feigned himself dead, and lay perfectly still, till he heard his mother call him after dark.]-

Nathan K. Knight saw a Missourian cut down with a Corn Cutter and also saw them stripping the dying, and heard the boys crying for mercy— Brother Knight made his escape across the Mill dam after receiving his wounds through his lungs and finger— After the Massacre was over he was led to a house by a woman and whilst lying under his wounds he heard Mr. <Jesse> Maupin say that he blew one of the boys brains out, and one day whilst walking the Streets at , he was met by three Missourians who threatened to butcher him, and one of them by the name of Rogers drew a Butcher Knife, and said “that he had not got his Corn Cutter with him, that he cut down with, but by Jesus I have got something that will do as well;” but by great chance he made his escape from the Ruffian—

withdrew from the army at as soon as the ’s exterminating order was received, although up to this time we were ignorant at of the movements of the Mob at and the ’s order of extirmination—

On the Thirtieth of October a large company of armed Soldiery were seen approaching . They came up near to the Town and then drew back about a mile and encamped for the night. We were informed that they were Militia, ordered out by the for the purpose of stopping our proceedings it having been represented to his Excellency by wicked and designing Men from , that we were the aggressors, and had committed outrages in &c They had not yet got the ’s order of [HC 3:187] extermination, which I believe did not arrive until the next day— [p. 847]

October 30 Hauns Mill Massacre was 18 or 19 whose names as far as I recollect, were as follows: , Levi -[N.]- Merrick Elias Benner, Josiah Fuller, Benjamin Lewis, Alexander Campbell, , Sardius Smith -[aged 12 years]-, George S. Richards Mr. -[William]- Napier, Mr. -[Austin]- -[Augtistie]- Harmer, Mr. -[Simon]- Cox, Mr. , Mr. , Chas. Merrick -[a boy eight or nine years old]- -[John Lee, John Byers,]- and three or four others, whose names I do not recollect as they were strangers to me. Among the wounded who recovered were Isaac Laney, Nathan K. Knight, Mr. -[William]- Yokum, two brothers by the name of and George]- Myers, , Mr. , and several others (, -[Jacob Potts, Charles Jimison, John Walker, Alma Smith aged about 9 years old]- Miss Mary Stedwell while fleeing was shot thorough the hand, and fainting, fell over a log, into which they shot upwards of twenty balls. To finish their work of destruction this band of murderers composed of men from , , , Carroll and Counties, led by some of the principal men of that section of the Upper Country, (among whom I am informed were Mr. Ashby of , member of the State Legislature, Col. Jennings, of , Thomas O. Bryon, Clerk of , Mr. Whitney, Dr. Randall, and many others) proceeded to rob the houses, waggons and tents, of bedding and clothing, drove off horses and waggons, leaving widows and orphans destitute of the necessaries of life, and even stripped the clothing from the bodies of the slain! According to their own account, they fired seven rounds in this awful butchery, making upwards of sixteen hundred shots at a little company of men, about thirty in number. I hereby certify the above to be a true statement of facts according to the best of my knowledge. .

Nathan K. Knight saw a Missourian cut down with a Corn Cutter and also saw them stripping the dying, and heard the boys crying for mercy— Brother Knight made his escape across the Mill dam after receiving his wounds through his lungs and finger— After the Massacre was over he was led to a house by a woman and whilst lying under his wounds he heard Mr. Jesse Maupin say that he blew one of the boys brains out, and one day whilst walking the Streets at , he was met by three Missourians who threatened to butcher him, and one of them by the name of Rogers drew a Butcher Knife, and said “that he had not got his Corn Cutter with him, that he cut down with, but by Jesus I have got something that will do as well;” but by great chance he made his escape from the Ruffian—

withdrew from the army at as soon as the ’s exterminating order was received, although up to this time we were ignorant at of the movements of the Mob at and the ’s order of extirmination—

View entire transcript |

Cite this page

Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]
ID #
7404
Total Pages
332
Handwriting on This Page
- Thomas Bullock
Footnotes
1. 691
  Nathan K. Knight, Affidavit, Quincy, IL, 13 Apr. 1839, Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845, CHL.
  
  Mormon Redress Petitions, 1839–1845. CHL. MS 2703.

History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]

Cite this page

Request for Documents